Friday's Daily Pulse

What you need to know about Florida today

| 9/6/2013

Florida job cuts rose in August

The Sunshine State ranked second in August job cuts in the South, pushing the state higher into the number of layoffs in the region for the year, according to data from outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Employers in Florida announced 1,454 cuts in August, up from 785 cuts in July. More from the South Florida Business Journal and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Taking a successful menu and concept to 100 other locations to create a chain has lost some appeal to the most modern of Florida restaurateurs. They would rather create whole new restaurants, each with a distinctive menu, décor and vibe — from rustic Asian to upscale Caribbean and every corner of Europe and regional America in between. Full story.

How states fared on unemployment benefit claims

The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell last week to nearly the lowest level since June 2008, a sign that employers are cutting fewer jobs. Applications fell 9,000 to a seasonally adjusted 323,000. That's just 1,000 above a five-year low reached last month. More from the AP and the Washington Post.

Column: The smart business of health

It isn't often you hear a buttoned-down, well-compensated health insurance executive sound like some combination of TED talk and the Burning Man festival. But Patrick Geraghty's ideas for reforming the health care system evoke elbow patches and tie-dye as much as a starched collar. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

The chairman of the board overseeing the state university system didn't look far to find a temporary replacement for chancellor Frank Brogan, who will step down at end of the month. Jan Ignash, Brogan's second-in-command, has been tapped as interim chancellor. The full Board of Governors will be asked to approve promoting Ignash, the vice chancellor and chief academic officer, at a meeting Sept. 12. [Source: Times/Herald]

› Disney and Universal battle for theme park guests' dollars[NBC News] Having invested billions in new attractions and innovative technology over the last few years, the industry’s major players are reaping the rewards of increased visitation, higher guest spending and cash reserves that promise more developments to come.

› Panel recommends $1M in tax incentives to Xun Energy[Florida Today] An advisory board Thursday morning unanimously recommended that startup company Xun Energy Inc. receive more than $1 million in tax incentives from Brevard County, despite the fact that the company had no revenue and lost nearly $1 million last year.